Peru suspect 'to plead guilty'

A British women arrested on suspicion of trying to smuggle cocaine out of Peru is prepared to plead guilty in exchange for a short sentence. Melissa Reid told the Mail on Sunday she was "scared" but did not want to be in prison until she was 35.

Live updates

The prosecutor overseeing the case of two UK women arrested last month trying to fly to Spain with 24lb of cocaine says each faces at least six years and eight months in prison with no eligibility for parole if they plead guilty.

Prosecutor Juan Bautista Mendoza said today that a further sentence reduction is possible if the women testify against co-conspirators.

Otherwise, they face between eight and 15 years.

Twenty-year-old Michaella McCollum's lawyer Peter Madden said he could not yet say whether she would plead guilty or go to trial.

After her arrest he said the two women were coerced by a gang of up to 15 armed men.

Advertisement

A British women arrested on suspicion of trying to smuggle cocaine out of Peru said although she was "scared" about striking a plea deal, she did not want to be in prison until she was 35.

Melissa Reid, who is in the notorious Virgen de Fatima prison in Peru's capital Lima, told the Mail on Sunday: "I am really scared about what I am about to do but I am also relieved that there could be a light at the end of the tunnel.

Melissa Reid was arrested along with Michaella McCollum. Credit: Facebook

"After a lot of thought and advice from my lawyer I am going to go in front of the judge and admit I was in possession of the drugs and that I went to Peru to pick up drugs to take to Spain - I am willing to plead guilty to that.

"I did it under duress, I still maintain that, and I am glad I do not have to say I accepted money to do it."